Save Etruria Industrial Museum

Etruria Industrial Museum, Lower Bedford Street, Etruria
on the junction of the Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals

"It's important to have a library and Children's Centre close by. The closure of Ford Green Hall and Etruria Industrial Museum would be a terrible loss – it's not as if Stoke-on-Trent is awash with tourist attractions. Their closure would give people two extra reasons not to visit.

I would urge all our MPs to stand and fight to get our city recognised as a special case and to do everything in their power to reduce the burden of cuts facing our city. I urge the council leader and the new chief executive to do everything they can to avoid the scale of closures being talked about and to think long and hard about the harm this could do to the long term future of the city."

MARIA SCRIVENS Dresden

"A NINE-YEAR-OLD is making a stand against council cuts and has got the backing of all his school friends.

Jack Fowler-Evans is the youngest volunteer at Etruria Industrial Museum. For the past two years, he has been pitching in with the cleaning, painting and general maintenance work every Thursday night and some weekends.

His dedication has meant he can expand his own knowledge about engineering, which is his passion.

But earlier this month, Jack was shocked to hear that Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning to sell off or close his beloved museum, as part of plans to save £33 million in 12 months.

The museum, which costs £117,000 a year to run, attracted 18,823 visitors last year, an average of 361 people a week, and employs the equivalent of three full-time staff.

Teacher Iain MacDonald said: "The children know about the recession and that there is less money around. They understand everyone is finding money is tight.

"But this is affecting something which Jack really cares about. He is fascinated with history and his energy for it is really contagious.""

Sentinel Newspaper

The council are proposing the sale or closure of Etruria Industrial Museum. Naturally we want to make sure that as many supportive voices as possible are heard during the current consultation period

You can help by e-mailing or writing to Mohammed Pervez (Council Leader) and Hazel Lyth (relevant councillor with our portfolio) plus Tony Oakman (relevant officer) and Keith Bloor (head of museums) plus your own MPs and councillors?

...... once this place is gone, it's gone.

Relevant e-mail links:

mohammed.pervez@stoke.gov.uk | hazel.lyth@stoke.gov.uk | tony.oakman@stoke.gov.uk

ian.vanarkadie@stoke.gov.uk (assistant director) | keith.bloor@stoke.gov.uk |

letstalk@stoke.gov.uk (official consultation site)

There's also a Facebook page ......search 'Save Etruria Industrial Museum'

you could write to the Sentinel Newspaper as well

Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire